Insight from Out-of-Sight

Insight is the origin of vision, or at least that’s how it works best. The etymology of the word insight is: “sight with the ‘eyes’ of the mind, mental vision, understanding from within.” This suggests the spark of vision happens at the sensory level, requires deep introspection, and isn’t always immediately articulatable with words. Is THAT a word, articulatable?! 

In our modern-day vernacular, we frequently talk about “data insights” and may even use them to inform vision. But before that point, there’s much to be captured in how vision begins. 

I’ve worked with executives who developed their organization’s vision primarily from what their customers needed. And in cases where vision was sourced intrinsically, the originator later realized their vision wasn’t well-articulated (often after action to support that vision was well underway and misalignment occurred). 

Vision creates change … when followed by action. But before action, there needs to be an “exploration and articulation” process as well as early engagement to expand that initial vision. Only then can vision be realized. 

Just as change starts with YOU, vision also must begin with YOU…your insights, the deep understanding you have about something that compels you in a certain forward direction. How do you do this? Ah, I was hoping you’d ask! 

After you initially envision something: 

1. Spend 90 minutes with yourself having an “out-of-sight” experience…yes, even when your vision seems so clear to you, and you’re excited to share it, you need this time to yourself first to explore and articulate the insights that spawned your vision. NOTE: If you want to do this in nature, great…but you can also just turn your office chair in a different direction than normal for a new ‘geography’ or perspective. 
2. During your 90 minutes alone, tell yourself (and write down) what you know from deep within that can be possible from these insights that compel you towards this vision. 
3. Finally, consider how it is that you know that (from #2 above) … consider insights from your experiences, your beliefs, and your desires. Write those down. 

This exploration and articulation process can help you bring a vision to others and engage them in the dreaming process. Then, having dreamed together, the actions you and others then take can bear riper, faster, sweeter fruit for vision to become reality. 

This Week: Try the three steps above when you start creating a vision for something you want.